HaPpY BirThDaY BiG gUy!

I just want to wish my sweet Rowie Boy a Happy 5th Birthday today! Can I just say how much I love this kid!?! Hes drives me crazy sometimes but for the most part I adore him. He has definitely helped this woman learn some patience and I know that it is something my Heavenly Father is constantly trying to teach me. He is a go go kind of kid with lots of energy but a sweet and funny disposition. Here are some things I love about him.

1. He loves his sister to death! He also loves cuddling her and often tells me how cute he thinks she is when she sucks her thumb. Hes also always down to help her find her blankie.

2. Hes always willing to help this Momma out. Sometimes he takes a bribe but for the most part he does it because he loves to help. He is so good at rinsing his dishes and putting them in the dishwasher.

3. He is so outgoing with other kids. He goes into Chickfila knowing hes going to make a new friend and he usually makes more than that. He is shy with Adults but were working on it.

4. Hes quite the character and has kind of a sick sense of humor. He thinks toots are HILARIOUS and hes one gassy kid!

5. Hes all boy! Cars, guns, video games, sports and wants nothing to do with the color pink.

6.He is wonderful at saying his prayers. He wont go to sleep with out doing that OR brushing his teeth.

7. He is really a tech savy kid. He plays on my iphone, finds hotwheels online and plays it, turns on the Tv and puts in all his games or Dvds. Hes really smart that way. He even uses Netflix with ease!

8. He is my cuddler. He loves his back tickled and he loves to cuddle me when hes tired.

9. He loves sweets and can really appreciate some good chocolate just like his Daddy.

10. He has quite the imagination but sometimes he freaks himself out thinking hes seen all sorts of Monsters. The last one had a long chin and tongue and it tried to get him with its tongue from the chair to his bed.

Rowan I just love you and have enjoyed you in our home. Next year you will be in Kindergarten so Ive got to enjoy you as much as I can now! Happy Birthday!

Theres no place like home....

Yes, we have a home! We finally have a home! We officially moved in on October 29th. It was our Halloween miracle! After 3 long months in a hotel we are finally getting settled here in California. It feels good, REALLY good. I love it!( and yes, I just said that using Nachos accent)

Here are some Nielsen Family Updates.

Our little Lia turned 3! We had a great party with a face painter and balloon artist the day before Halloween. This all happened two days after we moved in. I think I was a bit over my head with that one BUT we pulled it off. It was a wonderful fun party but I was also sad. My baby girl is no longer a baby. She is a big girl now.They really DO grow up too fast! Oh... and it was Lorens birthday too. He kind of got the shaft. Sorry Loren:(

Lia is such a princess and super girly. Way more than I ever was.

Lia also just started ballet. This was something I have dreamed about having her do! I'm so glad that she wanted to do it. The week she turned 3 she started:) I love seeing her dance, it just melts my heart. She takes a class her with best friend Ada. I'm sure glad these two have each other.

Rowan is doing well also. Hes isn't doing sports at the moment but Basketball is next. He is such a Wii head that it drives me nuts!! Hes way too good for a four year old. He has his Buddy Ethan, Ada's twin brother whom he loves. We often go on little adventures with these four.

Loren and I just ran The Saint George Marathon. I'm glad I decided to run it all though it was extremely difficult for me. I'm just not in as good of shape as I was during my first marathon training but I did it. Loren ran with me which I thought was sweet. I trained during all of the "living in a hotel" chaos and I think it helped keep me stay sane. I also ran it with Ken and Jen (Loren sis and brother in law) and my sister Heather. We had a ball!

My in laws came into town last month to help us move in and to join us for The Price Is Right! That was one CRAZY experience and something that Ive always wanted to do. If I go again, Im going in a large crazy group. You have a way better chance of getting on if you do. We were bummed we didn't get on but we had fun. It airs November 18th I think. We were right in the middle four or so rows back.

We love our house but have a lot of painting ahead of us. You know me, I cant have white walls in my house. I need color! I will post pics as we do each room. We also have a backyard that is dirt and a dead front lawn. I do not have a green thumb but am hoping that I can grow one. Lots to do! Im just not feeling super motivated but I need to get on the ball. Metallic Orange Baby!

So theres a small little update on our family. Loren and I sure do miss our friends and family in Utah but we know that this is where we are to be. It was a long prayerful process and we know that this is the Lords plan for us. We love our new ward and already have many friends. The kids are happy and life here is good. We feel like we have opened a new chapter in our life and are grateful for new experiences and new friendships. I'm excited to see whats in store for us. I will try and keep you all updated, especially for my two Moms that are far away.

My 34th Birthday!

I cant sleep so here I am blogging at midnight. I had a fabulous day but I think I drank too much caffeine and now Im paying for it.

To celebrate my birthday, my friend Chrissy and I went to The Glen Ivy Day Spa. It was one of the most relaxing days EVER! This place is a gem and Im so glad my friend Angie recommended it. We went and relaxed in the mud bath and mineral bath, lounged in the pool and enjoyed the sauna and steam rooms. You pay a $40 dollar fee and you can use all there amenities. (Its free on your birthday) It was fabulous! I am already trying to plan my next trip. It was one of the best birthdays ever. Loren paid for everything and paid for a babysitter. What a great gift! I was on cloud nine:)



Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes, phone calls, messages flowers and gifts. It really meant a lot. I had a wonderful day!

What I know but for a moment have forgotten.....

Lately it seems as if I have forgotten a lot of things. Spiritual things. Things that are of the most importance. Why? I know why. Because I am not taking the time to do the things I know I should be doing. I am slacking spiritually BIG TIME! I need to make some changes.

Since we have moved, I have been wrapped up in many "things." Work, fun, sports and so on. I am wrapped up in the things that really don't matter. I have been wrapped up in the world. I have also missed going to church here and there because of work and I know it has affected me. Deep down I know what is important but it seems as if for a moment I have forgotten.

I have been struggling within my self lately and it has been hard. Harder than it really should be. I am making it harder that it really needs to be but I am not doing what I know I need to do to make it better. I know what I need to do but lately it seems as if for a moment I have forgotten.

Eight years ago, I learned a huge lesson in my life. I learned that when I make bad choices, the adversary gains strength over me and life becomes hard. I learned that sometimes our paths can seem too hard to continue on but if we rely on our Heavenly Father we can conquer those difficulties. I learned that when I rely solely on myself, I only fail. I learned that when I am prayerful and when I study that I become strong and I gain the strength I need to get through ANYTHING! I know this. I know this deep down to the deepest part of my soul but lately it seems as if for a moment I have forgotten.

I know that when I become spiritually lazy that the adversary sneaks in. I know that he wants nothing more than to make me miserable. Heavenly Father wants the complete opposite. I know that in these moments of difficulty that I am being tested. He wants to know how I will cope. Will I rely on the world or will I humble myself and rely on him? All I have to do is ask him to help me, it is that simple. he is there, I just need to open the door. For some reason, I am dragging this process out. I know this but lately it seems as if for a moment I have forgotten.

I know that what the world has to offer can not compare to what Heaven has to offer. Nothing in this world can bring the joy that heaven can bring. I know this but lately it seems as if for a moment I have forgotten.

I know that it is never to late to change and that I CAN BE and DESERVE TO BE a happy young woman. I know this but lately it seems as if for a moment I have forgotten.

I know that Heaven Father loves me enough to give me trails so that I can learn and grow. He doesn't give me trials to punish me and it doesn't mean he doesn't care. He does it because he loves me. I need to use this moment as a learning experience and do what I know I should. I know this but lately it seems as if for a moment I have forgotten.

I know that my spiritual being needs more love and attention than my physical being. I can be happy no matter how far I run or how much I weigh. Sometimes I find that I spend more time worrying about my outer appearance than I do about building up my spiritual self. I spend time everyday taking care of my body but I can honestly say that I don't spend that much time on my spirit. I have my priorities a little twisted. I know where they should be. I know this but lately it seems that for a moment I have forgotten.

Today I choose to remember. Today I chose to become a better me. Today I choose to awaken my spirit. Today I choose to become closer to the Lord and rely on him to help me. Today I choose to face my trials head on with his help. Today I choose to not be weak and believe in the strength that he gives me. Today I choose to be more prayerful. Today I choose to open the scriptures for guidance. Today I choose to GROW!

Our California life in pictures.

Been wondering what we've been up to? Well..read on...and on...and on!

Yes...The Nielsen's are still alive! No....We didn't fall of the planet. We were just all over it. Let me rewind to Feb for a bit since that's where I left off. Geesh...its been a while hasn't it! I keep saying that I will be better and then I don't, so I'm making no more promises:)

In the middle of Feb we decided to go visit my sister Heather in Idaho, travel on up to Portland to see Jared and then up to Mellisa and Ben's in Seattle. Lorens boss wanted him to take some time off before he started his new job and so he got some paid vacation so we took complete advantage of it. You know me....I am ALWAYS up for a raod trip. I will never pass one down. Anyways, come to find out, Loren needed to work in Ca for a week after the trip so I decided to just tag along and we drove down to So Cal from Portland. We stayed in Turlock for abit with Ryan's family on our way down. Once we got to Ca, we stayed in a nice hotel with a pool in Rancho Cucamonga and the kids and I partied while Loren worked.

Here are some Portland Highlights

An incredible dinner at Jakes. The oldest seafood restaurant in Portland. All I can say is WOW! I even tried oysters for the first time.

A trip to Voodoo Donuts! Of all the times I have been to Portland, I have never been able to go there. It was on the top of my list this time and I made it a serious priority. The magic is in the hole!

Lots of play time with Jack and Maggie...Jared and Joe's dogs


Highlights from Seattle

Walking Pikes Place with Grandma, Grandpa, Melissa, Ben and baby Cameron.

Visiting the troll under the bridge. Who knew this even existed?

A ferry ride over to Banbridge Island


A visit to the "Boat Locks"

Highlights from Turlock

Visiting Ryan's Family and eating some bomb digity Mexican Food.

Solving the four year hammer toe mystery! No wonder Rowan has one. Uncle Ryan has one too!

Feeding the ducks and nasty carp at Donelly Park...my childhood park.

Taking my family to see my childhood home on Fullerton Dr.

Visiting my elementary school Crowell

Eating WAY too many calories form my favorite Bakery Old Tyme Pastries and introducing my kids to the chocolate mice I loved so much as a kid


Visiting Amber (aka Rosie)one of my best friends that I grew up with and meeting her beautiful baby girl for the first time

Watching Rowan play with his new friends. Man this kid makes friends wherever he goes. He cried when we had to say goodbye to Alex

We got home On Sunday and then packed ourselves up for the big move that Thursday. Everything went smooth as pie and we are here living in a small apartment while we sell our house. Did I mention it was small? Yeah...REALLY small. I cant wait to get some more space.
Saying Goodbye to Grammy and Granpy. This was especially hard because they were moving to Guatemala City to serve a mission for our church for two years


Goodbye dinner with my family at Tepanyakis

Saying good bye to some of my wonderful friends

Saying good bye to the kids friends and preschool buddies





Lorens parents came to visit us in California for a while and so did Ryan and his family. It was nice to have the company and it definitely helped us transition. It was nice to be around family.

Loren is liking his job however he is working over 80 hours a week. Last Sunday was his first day off since the move. He is up at 4:00 am and home at 7:00 pm. It sucks, but I appreciate his hard work.

While Loren has been working his tail off, the kids and I have been vacationing. We have hit Sea World, the beach, Disneyland(we bought season passes), lots of park time, hanging at the pool and so on. Its been a ton of fun. The only thing that would make it better would be if Loren could come too. I don't feel like we are living a normal life...it still feels like a vacation.
Rowan and Lia started gymnastics and loved every minute of it.

We do story time on Tuesdays at the library with some new friends, and Rowan plays soccer on Mon and Wed. The kids are going to start swimming lessons in May so that should be fun also. Cant wait! I love doing fun summer activities with the kids:) They are happy and Rowan has only mentioned Utah a few times. Occasionally he askes to go home to see his cousins and his Grandparents.

I have been extremely busy working since I got here. Ive been working just about every weekend. I met a nice girl Amanda in my ward that has been helping me out with the kids so that has been nice. They like her alot and so do I. We are going to be doing some fun things together this summer! I recently bought a beach cruiser with a bike trailer for the kids and plan on cruising around town on it. I have wanted one for EVER and am excited to get it all put together.

We LOVE our ward and have found that people here are extra friendly. I have already made friends and feel very comfortable here. People just talk to you and I have met so many people just being out and about. Its a different world here but I really like it. The weather ROCKS too!

We are hoping to come home this Month for Memorial Day weekend if it works out. It would be nice to see everyone and to check on the house. Things are good here and we are happy. Change can be good! Sorry for the SUPER lost post but Im catchin up on two months here! Man this was rough!